Discussion often focuses on big overwhelming changes. However, small changes to the tools we use can cause challenges too. When they are unexpected, they can make it difficult to complete an otherwise easy task. Even one can cause an avalanche that results in longer-term issues. How we deal with the small change depends on many […]
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images 101: formats & file sizes
Digital images are easy to create thanks to a smart phone in nearly every pocket. However, they’re not straightforward to add to a website. Many different factors combine to complicate this and make a site’s images fuzzy or slow to load. To understand this, we need to understand a little about different formats and how […]
How do I …?
I’m often contacted after a client encounters a technology problem, searches for a solution, and implements it on their own. At this point their solution didn’t meet all their expectations. Does it have to be this way? No. I understand that it’s tempting to type your question into a search window and jump straight to […]
Three Tips to Prepare for Technology Changes
Preparing for technology changes can be overwhelming. It doesn’t have to be. Here are three tips to help you successfully prepare and minimize disruption to your business. 1 – Read widely There’s a tendency to only read widely when there’s uncertainty about a change, it’s beneficial once you’ve decided too. You don’t need to closely […]
The tools I use to work
When I see an article with the title, “I do X and this is how I work” I immediately click to read more. However, I’m hesitant to write this sort of post for myself. Why? I customize my tools until they’re almost unrecognizable or I use something that is incredibly boring. For years I thought […]
Remember to ask Why
It’s important to remember to ask the open-ended question “Why” when evaluating technology. Your answers will help determine the reasons for exploring specific solutions. A client recently asked about installing an add-on for their e-commerce site. They identified two solutions and asked for my expertise before they made a final decision. As I filled out […]
Summary of Recent Updates to WordPress
Over the past year there have been many changes to life … and WordPress. I know the details of each update haven’t been a priority. It can be overwhelming to go back and find out what changed, and next week version will see 5.7 released. To help, I’ve worked through the past year of releases […]
Exploring a New Playbook
On Wednesday, there was buzz about both how quickly the administration turned on new websites and the accessible features found on them. Today I want to look into one resource that likely helped guide this process from the USDS, the Digital Services Playbook. This guide builds on best practices from both government and private business. […]
zero budget website, intro to options
A client recently asked me for advice about a problem a nonprofit organization she volunteered with needed to solve. The free platform they had used to host their website for the past decade was being shut down. They didn’t have any budget; did they have any options? Would they need to register a domain name […]
What do you need to solve?
I understand the allure of wanting a new magical tool when times aren’t great. A new thing can often help begin a new habit, but is it really solving the actual need? Let’s look at the worksheets I’m slowly writing. Could new software and tech help me to do it faster? That’s what marketing would […]